ormula One will
acknowledge the
most wide-sweeping
technical changes since
the modern world
championship began more
than 60 years when the Rolex
Australian Grand Prix blasts off
at Albert Park.
Banished to history is the V8
era which ran from 2006 to last
season as F1 machines switch to a
raft of new technical and sporting
regulations.
The F1 grid moves to 1.6litre,
turbocharged powerplants that will
benefit from an energy recovery
systems (kinetic and heat) that
develops 120kW of power, double
the output of the outgoing system.
Gearboxes move from seven to
eight forward ratios which need
must last for six races as opposed

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to five last year.
Ratios cannot be tailored to suit
individual circuits with a single
set must be nominated for the
entire season although there is an
opportunity to adjust ratios just
once through the season.
A new minimum weight of
691kg has been set, increased from
642kg to take into account the
new powertrain.
From a design perspective, cars
must use a single exit tailpipe
centrally mounted which all
exhaust gases must pass through
while the nose height, which
has caused plenty of pre-season
remarks, has been slashed to
185mm from 550mm in an effort
to improve safety.
The width of the front wing
has been reduced by 150mm to
1650mm.

On the sporting rules side,
teams can run up to four different
drivers in either of the Friday
practice sessions while fivesecond penalties will be issued to
drivers for minor infringements.
Accruing 12 penalty points
during the season will amount to
a one-race ban for drivers.
The level of engineering
change to the 2014-spec F1 cars
have presented the grid with a
raft of challenges as seen in the
three lots of pre-season testing at
Jerez and Bahrain (twice).
One thing remains constant
is that there will be a high level
of uncertainty going into the
Australian GP.
Aside from the rather tricky area
of predicting who will win, there
remains a strong likelihood of an
abnormally high attrition rate.

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Round 1 - Australian Grand Prix I Cover Story

5

Melbourne awaits
F1’s voyage
into the unknown

Formula One pundit Martin Brundle tells Speedcafe.com’s
Tom
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Howard to expect a chaotic and unpredictable AGP season opener
Formula 1 pundit Martin Brundle is
expecting a “chaotic” Rolex Australian
Grand Prix as teams scramble to get on top
of the biggest technical shake up the sport
has experienced.
The distinguished broadcaster has told
Speedcafe.com that this weekend’s season
opener in Melbourne will be a wild affair,
predicting a high rate of attrition and a
surprise winner, as teams battle reliability
issues to reach the chequered flag.
The F1 pecking order has been turned
on its head in pre-season as a result of the
sport’s most radical regulation changes in
its 60 year history.
This year teams have been forced to

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™

develop new 1.6 litre turbo charged
V6 engines along side new kinetic
and heat energy recovery systems.
Significant tweaks have been made to
the aerodynamics of the car most notably
around the nose and front wing areas.
“Melbourne is going to be chaotic”,
former F1 star Brundle told Speedcafe.com.
“I have never seen a lead up to a season
as crazy as this.
“I think it is going to be calamity in the
beginning and we don’t know who is going
to get to the end. We won’t be reading out
the podium with five laps to go thats for
sure.”
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Round 1 - Australian Grand Prix I Cover Story

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Pre-season testing has produced a wealth
of reliability concerns for teams which has
forced the paddock to go “back-to-basics”,
according to Brundle, who is tipping
Mercedes and Ferrari to star at Albert Park.
Mercedes head into the race as favourites
with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg
setting the pace while banking nearly
5,000km untroubled laps.
Renault powered teams; Red Bull, Lotus,
Toro Rosso and Caterham have struggled
compared to their Mercedes and Ferrari
engined counterparts.
“Its back to basics really,” said Brundle.
“I think the teams have been so busy just
trying to get the cars going round the track
that all the niceties and fine tuning on
strategies and tyre use have gone out the
window for most teams.”
“Just dealing with the new aero would be
enough to challenge some of the teams

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Round 1 - Australian Grand Prix I Cover Story

and that is just a tiny part of what they
have had to cope with the new power
packs and electrical systems.
“Anybody with Mercedes engines has a
head start in terms of pace and reliability.
I think it will change quite rapidly as the
teams find their way as it is such a massive
reset for everyone.
“The two teams I think will be strongest
are Mercedes and Ferrari because they are
developing their own power pack for their
own team.
“However as the Mercedes works team
showed in testing reliability is still an issue
for everybody and It would be no surprise
if a Mercedes powered Force India or
Williams won one for the first races.
Reigning world champions Red Bull
created the majority of headlines in testing
after encountering a series of issues with
their new RB10, which is yet to complete a
race distance.
An aggressive design on the packaging
has resulted in Sebastian Vettel and Daniel
Ricciardo’s car catching fire amid serious
concerns over the reliability and speed of
the new Renault engine.
The team have clocked only 1711km in
three four day test sessions less than half
of the pace setting Mercedes squad, which
Brundle believes will rule the team out of

running in the first six races of the season.
“I think it is going to take Red Bull a while
to get on top of their car, added Brundle.”
“The car will be quick and you can’t
underestimate them as it is long season. It
will depend on what they turn up with in
Melbourne but I would be amazed if Red
Bull get on it inside the first half dozen
races.”
However, Red Bull’s woes could be a
blessing in disguise for Ricciardo as he
prepares to got head-to-head with fourtime world champion Vettel.
“I think Ricciardo is going to be just fine
this year”, said Brundle.
“In a way he has the worst job in the sport
to be Sebastian Vettel’s team mate. If it was
a continuation of the regulations from last
season I would have said he would have his
work cut out.
“Daniel has got his chance now and
crucially the new rules have given him this
reset even if it may not feel like for a few
races.”
Meanwhile, one team which could be set
for a return to their championship winning
glory days is Williams.
The famous outfit have been a sleeping
giant for many years but a promising
pre-season and a new relationship with
Mercedes suggests the team are ready to

7

challenge the front runners.
This on top of a restructuring process that
has seen the renowned former Renault
boss Pat Symonds take the helm has led
Brundle to believe the will be contenders
this season.
I’m pretty convinced that Williams will be
strong and I have said this right from last
year.
“They have a chance for a reset and they
have some good guys going into that team
and they also chose the Mercedes power
pack. When you look at KERS last time
around Mercedes got it right first time.
“Pat Symonds is there alongside decent
drivers in Massa and Bottas. They have not
had a winning time for a long time but the
core and the quality of the operation is still
there.”
With such an air of unpredictability
surrounding the opening race of the
season, the Australian Grand Prix is set to
be one of the most fascinating on record.

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Round 1 - Australian Grand Prix I The Big Shake Up

10

THE BIG SHAKE
UP
Â?

Pre-Season Testi

RED BULL

Drivers: Sebastian Vettel, Daniel
Ricciardo
Car: RB10
Engine: Renault
Test Mileage: 1711km
Rating 3/10
To say Red Bull have encountered
a few teething troubles is a massive
understatement, with the world
champions unusually left scratching
their heads after a disastrous preseason program.
Problems began at the first test in
Jerez where the RB10 banked just 21
laps in four days. Reliability has been
the biggest concern with the team yet
to complete a race simulation.
Design guru Adrian Newey has
already admitted that an aggressive
concept to package the RB10â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
exhaust has led to bodywork catching
fire amid other critical cooling issues
with the car.
The Renault powerplant has also
contributed to the carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lack of pace
and reliability with the team resorting
to running at a reduced pace in the
final Bahrain test.
Red Bull have completed the
third lowest total of testing miles
and are yet to match the Mercedes
powered machines in both speed and
reliability.
Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo
will be forced to lower expectations
this weekend as the team focusses on
fixes to move them up the order.

MERCEDES

Drivers: Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg
Car: W05
Engine: Mercedes
Test Mileage: 4973km
Rating: 8/10
Mercedes appear to be the best
prepared team for this weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
season opener having completed
almost 5,000km of testing, while
encountering less problems compared
to the rest of the grid.
The W05 has shown blistering pace
topping the timesheets on several
occasions in testing while becoming
the first team to complete a race
distance. However, testing has not
been without its issues as Lewis
Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have both
suffered from gearbox and engine
dramas.
Having the benefit of designing the
car around the Mercedes engine and
KERS and ERS powertrain, the team
appear to have adapted best to the
new for 2014 V6 powerplant.
Although they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to admit it,
Mercedes are the favourites to shine in
Melbourne.

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FERRARI

Drivers: Fernando Alonso, Kimi
Raikkonen
Car: F14T
Engine: Ferrari
Test Mileage: 4489km
Rating: 7/10
The prancing horse has quietly gone
about is business in the off season and
if history has taught us anything, never
underestimate the power of Ferrari.
The Maranello team have been solid
if not spectacular in pre-season testing
with both Fernando Alonso and Kimi
Raikkonen completing more than
enough untroubled miles in the car.
It is unlikely the team has completely
shown its hand in terms of pace
and overall package, with improved
performance expected in Melbourne.
Ferrari will also benefit from having
personnel design the F14T chassis
in conjunction with its new V6
powerplant and electrical drivetrains.

Lotus elected to sit out the first preseason test at Jerez which appears
to have hampered their build up. As
a result of the absence, the Enstone
team have racked up the lowest
amount of miles in testing.
Issues stemming from engine
supplier Renault and its energy
recovering systems however
are potentially masquerading a
fundamentally well designed car.
The E22s in the hands of Romain
Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado are
likely to be off the pace in Melbourne
with a question mark surrounding their
reliability.

After the debacle of last season,
McLaren appear to be well and truly
on the road to recovery following an
encouraging pre-season. Aided by
Mercedesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; advantage in the engine and
recovery systems department, the MP429 has shown flashes of real speed.
The team began pre-season testing
strongly but mechanical and engine
gremlins troubled them in the final test.
However, Jenson Button and rookie
Kevin Magnussen have both impressed
and all aspects considered McLaren, who
have been focussing on reliability and
speed in race trim, will be among the
contenders for victory at Albert Park.

Force India could spring the biggest
surprise in Melbourne after emerging
as genuine podium contenders
after an impressive pre-season test
programme.
The Silverstone-based squad
have also benefitted from the well
developed Mercedes powerplant.
Although they havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shown the
raw one lap pace shown by Mercedes,
McLaren and Williams, Vijay Mallyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
squad have certainly a moved a step
forward.
Nico Hulkenberg initially showed the
carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pace in the first Bahrain test with
Sergio Perez topping the time sheets in
two of the four days in the final hit out.
With a healthy amount of mileage
completed, Mallya believes his
team can threaten the podium in
Melbourne.

After a slow start to testing, Sauber
has made solid progress ensuring it
will be firmly in the midfield battle
come the race on Sunday.
Poor handling coupled with the all
new Ferrari engine hampered the team
initially but aerodynamic upgrades
have moved the outfit ahead of the
Renault powered teams in terms of
pace and reliability.
A healthy amount of mileage
for both Adrian Sutil and Esteban
Gutierrez should provide the team an
opportunity for points in Melbourne.

Like the other Renault powered
teams, Toro Rosso has struggled for
pace and reliability in pre-season
testing.
The switch from Ferrari power used
last season to Renault, to be more
inline with its sister team Red Bull,
appears to be an ill-timed judgement.
Renaultâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s struggles have halted the
teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pre-season progress and left
them languishing in the lower end of
the grid. However, when the French
manufacturer solves its issues it
could elevate the team back into the
midfield battle.
The final test in Bahrain did offer
Toro Rosso a crumb of comfort as they
outperformed Red Bull significantly
in terms of speed and reliability.
Reaching the finish is most likely to be
the main objective this weekend.

Only Mercedes have completed
more test miles than Williams as the
former world champions seem ready
to return to the big time in 2014.
Frank Williamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; team have worked
hard behind the scenes restructuring
the outfit, now led by the renowned
former Renault boss Pat Symonds.
Adopting the Mercedes engine
coupled with a shrewd design on the
FW36 has propelled the team back to
the forefront, if their form in testing is
to be believed.
The Grove team has shown
impressive outright pace and with
4893km of untroubled kilometres
completed, reliability is relatively
strong.
If the team can replicate its pace
and reliability this weekend drivers
Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas could
challenge for the victory.

This year could represent Marussiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
best chance to remove its label of also
ran and join the midfield battle.
For the early races the minnows have
a real opportunity to outpace the
Renault powered teams, but results will
largely end on its reliability, which has
been called into question on several
occasions in testing.
However, they should certainly beat
their perennial rivals Caterham.

Drivers: Marcus Ericsson, Kamui
Kobayashi
Car: CT05
Engine: Renault
Test Mileage: 3313km
Preparation for Melbourne Rating: 4/10
Caterham certainly faces an uphill
struggle at the beginning of the
season as the Leafield operation
battles to overcome issues
surrounding Renaultâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engine and
recovery systems.
However, out of all the Renault
powered teams, Caterham have
completed the most mileage in
testing, a full 1300km more than Red
Bull, which could come into play this
weekend.
If Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus
Ericsson can guide the car to the
chequered flag, they could surprise
their fellow Renault powered
counterparts.

ith the sport undertaking such
a huge change in regulations,
predicting the outcome of the
Australian Grand Prix is a difficult task.
However, it appears a Mercedes powered
car is most likely to come through and take
the chequered flag at Albert Park judging
from the results of pre-season testing.
The works Mercedes squad are the
favourites for the event with Lewis
Hamilton just edging team mate Nico
Rosberg in the odds provided by betting
agency Ladbrokes. The team have

completed the most mileage in testing and
look the most convincing in terms of speed
and reliability.
Williams, who are also benefitting
from Mercedes power, have enjoyed an
encouraging testing program and are
expect to perform well at Albert Park.
Drivers Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas
could spring a real surprise for the team
that has been struggling on recent seasons.
Ferrari will also be strong even if they
failed to show blistering pace in testing.
The Scuderia cannot be underestimated
and it is likely they are yet to show to the
world the true speed of the F14T. Fernando
Alonso is rated by Ladbrokes as the third

favourite for the race victory.
McLaren looks set to produce the form
that we expect from the Woking outfit
after failing to record a podium finish last
season. The squad have not enjoyed the
level of reliability shown by Mercedes in
the off-season but Jenson Button and in
particular rookie Kevin Magnussen have
impressed.
World champions Red Bull Racing
meanwhile appear to be struggling heading
into the opening round after suffering
several speed and reliability issues in testing.
It is unlikely they will contend for the victory
as Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo
battle to get on top of the RB10.

2014 Formula 1 World Championship Entry List
#

Driver

Team

Chassis

Engine

1

Sebastian VETTEL (DEU)

Infiniti Red Bull Racing

RB10

Renault

3

Daniel RICCIARDO (AUS)

Infiniti Red Bull Racing

RB10

Renault

44

Lewis HAMILTON (GBR)

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team

W05

Mercedes

6

Nico ROSBERG (DEU)

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team

W05

Mercedes

14

Fernando ALONSO (ESP)

Scuderia Ferrari

F14T

Ferrari

7

Kimi RAIKKONEN (FIN)

Scuderia Ferrari

F14T

Ferrari

8

Romain GROSJEAN (FRA)

Lotus F1 Team

E22

Renault

13

Pastor MALDONADO (VEN)

Lotus F1 Team

E22

Renault

22

Jenson BUTTON (GBR

McLaren Mercedes

MP4-29

Mercedes

20

Kevin MAGNUSSEN (DEN)

McLaren Mercedes

MP4-29

Mercedes

27

Nico HULKENBERG (DEU)

Sahara Force India F1 Team

VJM07

Mercedes

11

Sergio PEREZ (MEX)

Sahara Force India F1 Team

VJM07

Mercedes

99

Adrian SUTIL (DEU)

Sauber F1 Team

C33

Ferrari

21

Esteban GUTIERREZ (MEX)

Sauber F1 Team

C33

Ferrari

25

Jean-Eric VERGNE (FRA)

Scuderia Toro Rosso

STR9

Renault

26

Danill KVYAT (RUS)

Scuderia Toro Rosso

STR9

Renault

19

Felipe MASSA (BRA)

Williams Martini Racing

FW36

Mercedes

77

Valtteri BOTTAS (FIN)

Williams Martini Racing

FW36

Mercedes

17

Jules BIANCHI (FRA)

Marussia F1 Team

MR03

Ferrari

4

Max CHILTON (GBR)

Marussia F1 Team

MR03

Ferrari

Caterham F1 Team

CT05

Renault

10

Kamui KOBAYASHI (JPN)

Caterham F1 Team

CT05

Renault

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